mad men, the twist, and cold war politics in kansas, 1962

Summer Youth Theater Behind the Story Series
An educational series in conjunction with July’s production of Hairspray. The public is invited to a series of panel discussions and a night at the movies in conjunction honoring how far we’ve come, and understand how we got here.

Cold War Internationalism
Tuesday, July 2 | 6 to 7:30 pm
Panelists discuss Kansas during the cold war period.

Jon Taylor, University of Central Missouri
Robert Davis, School of Advanced Military Studies at Command & General Staff College
Christopher Mullis, University of Melbourne
Moderator: Jonathan Hagel, University of Kansas

Gretchen Eick, Friends University
Clarence Lang, University of Kansas
Bill Tuttle, University of Kansas
Moderator: Randal Jelks, University of Kansas

Night at the Movies & Twist-a-thon
Friday, July 12 | 6 pm to midnight

The Lawrence Arts Center hosts a night of film screenings and events that celebrate the pop culture of the 1960s. Filmmaker Kevin Wilmott will show clips from his new films; Jayhawkers, about the life and career of black KU basketball star Wilt Chamberlain, and Destination Planet Negro, a sci-fi comedy. Following Kevin’s presentation there will be an outdoor screening of the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird.

Featuring twist lessons and contest, a best spoken-word poem, rap, or story competition on the topic of 1962 for local high school students, and ‘60s-style refreshments for all. Twist-a-thon will be filmed by University of Kansas film students under the supervision of documentary filmmakers Madison Lacy and Marlo Angell. A short film documenting it will be uploaded to YouTube.

SPOKEN WORD COMPETITION

Deadline for entries: July 4, 2013
Winning selections performed on Friday, July 12 during the Mad Men Kansas 1962 Night at the Movies and Twist-a-thon

* Students 21 and under may submit poetry, rap, hip-hop, beat, jazz any form of spoken word.

* Submissions should be in digital form as text, video or sound recording and submitted online.

* The subject or inspiration for the piece must relate to 1962 and may relate to Kansas.

* Pieces should be 3-5 minutes in length, though slightly shorter or longer may be considered.

* Solos, duets, and groups are allowed.

* Submissions close at midnight on July 4.

* Winners will be notified by July 9.

Email submissions to spokenword@lawrenceartscenter.org. Entries may be in the form of youTube or other links to your video presentation, and .pdf or Word documents.

Judges will include Kevin Willmott, filmmaker and professor of film at KU; Anwar Yadullah, actor/model and spoken word artist; Mark Hennessey, poet and professor of poetry at KU; and Kansas City Poet Iris Appelquist. Judges will also present readings.

FILM SCREENINGS, POETRY AND DISCUSSIONS, LIVE MUSIC, AND DANCING!
This festival of 1962 pop culture will include excerpts from Kevin Wilmott’s new film Jayhawkers, about the life and career of black KU basketball star Wilt Chamberlain. Wilmott will also share scenes from his sci-fi comedy, Destination Planet Negro, and discuss his perspective on the successes and failures of the Civil Rights movement.

Following the movies, a live rock band will take to the stage for a spontaneous short introduction to the Twist, the dance sensation of the early 60s, followed by a Twist competition and prizes. Winners of the Spoken Word Competition will perform their submissions and receive prizes, including iTunes gift cards, game time coupons, gift certificates and more.

We’ll close the evening with an outdoor screening of To Kill A Mockingbird followed by an open late night discussion: Lawrence Mad Men and Women – Where are we now?

The evening will be filmed by University of Kansas film students under the supervision of documentary filmmakers Madison Lacy and Marlo Angell. A short film documenting it will be uploaded to YouTube.

1960s Popular CultureTuesday, July 16 | 6 to 7:30 pm
Panelists discuss Lawrence in the 1960s.

Chuck Berg, University of Kansas
Ted Meadows, Johnson County Community College
Jeff Moran, University of Kansas
Rebecca Miller Davis, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Moderator: David Cateforis, University of Kansas